​“Too soon to panic” is not only the title of a sports book by a best-selling author Gordon Forbes. It is also Paul Adams’ message to the Cape Cobras following an eight-wicket defeat against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in their opening Momentum One Day Cup match of the 2015/2016-season.

The Cape Cobras rallied impressively with the bat to score 270 for five after a dramatic drop in the run-rate in the middle stages. Vernon Philander hammered a superb half-century off 28 balls, while Justin Ontong struck 49 off 49 balls and Dane Vilas compiled a brisk 26 off 19 deliveries.

But the hosts cruised to 271 for two in 44.2 overs, as Stephen Cook and Alviro Petersen crafted centuries.“It was very disappointing,” Adams said. “The Lions bowled with good discipline and intensity and they showed their experience with the bat as we were found wanting. They put our young bowlers under pressure,” he added.

Adams said awareness and intensity are important. The attack must understand how to react when the batting unit transfers pressure and must respond appropriately.

The coach ruled out wholesale changes to the team for the weekend’s double-header at home against The Unlimited Titans at PPC Newlands (on Friday) and at Boland Park in Paarl (on Sunday).“We will keep the same squad and Philander and Dane (Paterson) will lead the attack,” he said.

“Rory (Kleinveldt) needs some rest,” he added.“It is too soon to panic, and we need to keep cool heads.“There was a period between the 15th and 20th over that we allowed the run-rate to drop. We have addressed that as a batting unit,” he said about the performance with the bat.The brutal truth is that the top-order will have to improve the rotation of strike in the period between the 15th and 35th over.

Philander, Vilas and Robin Peterson are perfectly capable of occupying the crease for 15 overs or more and therefore more urgency would be needed from the top-order during the rest of the Momentum One Day Cup competition.Philander’s batting has improved out of sight the past two years and he was a pivotal factor in South Africa’s test series-win against Sri Lanka in 2014.

He also averaged 51 with the blade in a test series against Australia in 2014.The South African fast bowler can use stone-walling tactics if needed, accumulate expertly or attack relentlessly, and few all-rounders in South Africa possess that ability.​As a fast bowler, he has taken 31 wickets in six tests at PPC Newlands and his opening spell can be a crucial factor for the Cape Cobras on Friday against the defending champions.